Say goodbye to one of a giant in the world of fantasy, horror and science fiction. Richard Matheson passed away on Monday at age 87.

If you’re not really into fantasy, horror and science fiction novels and short stories, you still might know the Hollywood films based on Matheson’s stories. He was a prolific screenwriter in his own respect, with credits on the original The Twilight Zone (the legendary “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” episode is Matheson’s) and Star Trek (“The Enemy Within”).

Matheson’s novels included “I Am Legend,” “The Shrinking Man,” “A Stir of Echoes,” “Hell House,” “Bid Time Returns” and “What Dreams May Come,” all of which received Hollywood movie treatments.

It was a Matheson story – Duel – the story of a man trying to escape from a psychotic trucker – that helped to launch the career of a young Hollywood director named Steven Spielberg (made for TV, it was Spielberg’s first feature-length production).

Truly, a giant among his peers.

Petro

Inventor of the transporter malfunction.

John David

Always has been one of my favorites writers for many great books and short stories and screenplays. Also, he created one of my favorite characters in Carl Kolchak, the Night Stalker.